Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Foothold

In the end I returned to Mr. Churchill's office again.

When I went up the Nutella in the glass bottle had already disappeared by a third. The amount wouldn't have been small, how much did he scoop and eat absentmindedly?!

Moreover those pancake pieces sprawled on the table.

Surely this person spread Nutella on pancakes and ate?

Application power is also good! Nutella on pancakes! So the taste went!

"Teacher, really sorry. On the way you were going I seem to have been too shameless."

Mr. Churchill said while holding his head and deeply bowing his waist. The body trembling was clear he ate too much sweet things at once.

I lightly clicked my tongue.

"For now how about drinking water at least? Also catch your breath a bit."

"Water! Right! I have to rinse the inside of the mouth a bit. Excuse me a bit!"

Gulp gulp.

Mr. Churchill drank two cups of water in succession from the sitting place.

And perhaps because he drank too much at once, he immediately frowned his face.

"So what did you just say? Excuse me I couldn't hear properly."

Then Mr. Churchill was startled and stood up abruptly from the seat again! Aish, I was surprised!

"Right! This jam! Teacher, what on earth is this?! Jam made with chocolate! I've never seen such a thing in the world!"

"Ah, it seems the jam I gave suited your heart. But just now you said it looked burned..."

"It was a slip of the tongue! Please forget!"

He hid the flustered signs and hastily waved both hands. And then as if even a prepared speech, he started pouring out Nutella praise befitting a 'politician'!

"This is more excellent than any chocolate I've eaten! Just taking it to a coffee house or social club you'll become a popular star that day right away! Bread? Sandwich? Wherever you put it it's the best! All Europeans will definitely get addicted to this taste! I'll guarantee!"

"Haha..."

In fact what I know about Mr. Churchill is only the fact that until a while ago he was a war correspondent of the Boer War. He made a name by serializing the experience of escaping from the prisoner camp in the Morning Post.

And sometime he becomes the prime minister of Britain and leads Britain in the world war period that level?

I don't know the gap in between at all. So the fact that this young Gallipoli is a House of Commons member now was also just amazing.

Of course substantially his father, Sir Randolph Churchill's power and the power of the Marlborough Duke family the main house bloodline would have acted greatly. Otherwise there's no way they'd allocate a constituency to a mere political newcomer in that den of demons.

But let's change the order and think. With simple background alone one doesn't succeed to the point of making a name in history. Because he was a man who knows how to use such background well he becomes prime minister sometime, right?

Then, the premonition that even building friendship here wouldn't be bad came.

I decided to poke once more to find out if his reaction is sincere, or if he's teasing me.

"Mr. Churchill, it seems you gave too excessively good evaluation about this jam. Honestly I don't think it's up to that level. It's just simply melting chocolate, right?"

Then he immediately got excited and shouted.

"Melt chocolate? Melting chocolate doesn't produce this soft texture like jam! Moreover this aroma and savoriness! It seems you ground and put hazelnut, but nowhere is the trace of hazelnut visible! Surely it's a product made mobilizing tremendous latest science technology! This is literally technological innovation! Germany? America? I don't know which country's technology!"

[ Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill: This jam is a revolution! If I can spread this to all Britons...! / Emotion: Excitement / Satisfaction: ★★★★★ ]

The reaction is intense? Was it really satisfying? But why did he think this can't be made in Britain?

In fact it really wasn't much. If there's only the technology to make peanut butter, Nutella was something that could be produced as much as one wants even in this era.

Like peanut butter grinding hazelnut, and just mixing sugar and chocolate powder, olive oil something similar to previous life Nutella comes out.

If just matching the blending ratio well reproduction of over 90% was easy as eating cold porridge.

I tightly held the laughter that was about to burst out.

"Technological innovation. Then what do you think of the peanut butter that's popular lately? That's British-made, right?"

"Peanut butter? Peanut butter... No, this is incomparable! If this jam is just released in London, a craze to the point peanut butter is nothing will blow! Peanut butter is greasy and stiff so one can't eat long! But this jam is sweet and soft so even continuing to eat one doesn't get tired!"

Let's stop teasing. At this point I decided to reveal the truth.

"Sorry, this jam won't be obtainable on the market. It's regrettable."

"Yes? No, why? As expected it's imported from overseas! Belgium? Switzerland? Teacher, please just tell the purchase route! Then I'll somehow obtain it separately! Britons also have the right to eat such excellent chocolate jam! By any chance the French cheese monkey guys made... Ah, sorry! Just now was also a slip of the tongue!"

I shook my head and cut the words.

"No. This isn't a product sold on the market. As I said earlier too, I 'made' it."

"You made it directly? This?"

"Hmm, I also have to give one business card. In fact I should have given it first earlier, excuse me."

When I returned from Windsor Castle and looked, small parcels had arrived at my office in the restaurant.

Among them one was what Mr. Pitton sent. A small box containing several high-end business cards.

[ Electric & Imperial Spreadworks. Director, Jean-Paul Durand. ]

It's nothing special, he begged to please take just one position so I said just put the name up. I have to receive money, right?

"Imperial Spreadworks...? I think I've heard somewhere... Wa-wait!"

Mr. Churchill quickly picked up the large tub that was on the drawer, and checked the label.

Because it was a brand written very large it was clearly visible even from the seat I was sitting.

"Imperial Spreadworks, pea-peanut butter! Surely!!"

"Ah, right. It's a new product. So I don't sell yet. Ah, and the name of that jam please call it 'Nutella'. And the place producing will also change. Because I'm thinking of establishing a new company."

Thud.

"Then, this 'Nutella' when are you planning to release on the market...?"

"Well, I want to do it as fast as possible, but there are quite a few problems to solve."

"I'll help! Whether bill revision or policy, whatever! What obstacles are there? Please tell!"

Wait a minute, can one be this active just because one fell for the taste of Nutella?

At that time, I read the sticky desire hidden behind Mr. Gallipoli's eyes.

Aha, this person is also convinced of Nutella's big hit and intending to insert himself a share!

As expected befitting Mr. Gallipoli.

And, I didn't dislike such a person. Because a person with clear desires is convenient to deal with.

So I also lowered the guard. It was to send a signal that I also want a deal.

By any chance if this person steps out and helps, the thought that I might be able to put into action one plan I've only imagined so far came. Even if it's a persimmon I can't eat let's poke it.

"Just in time there's one matter Mr. Gallipol, no, Mr. Churchill can help with. If only this problem is solved the work speed will become quite fast."

"What is that?!"

"By any chance can you connect one person? Even if you just connect I'll give one box of this Nutella... No, one box a month for life."

Gulp.

"For life! Did you just say for life?! Nutella? Hahahat!"

"Right. For life. It's a person that important. How is it?"

"Good. Let's deal. Who do you want?"

"The Board of Trade of the Conservative Party cabinet."

I briefly caught my breath and added.

"Among them the most influential... Please arrange a seat with the President of the Board of Trade. Is it possible?"

Mr. Churchill's expression subtly distorted.

###

1901.

The period when European capitalism that was growing infinitely relying on colonial expansion was gradually reaching its limit.

They stamped out products so they have to sell, but no more places to sell are visible so the brazen imperialists who say they'll even snatch others' colonies and sell were raising their voices high.

In fact the First World War was no different from bursting what was to burst amid such international conflicts and tensions.

Whether politicians or entrepreneurs they were full of greed saying they'll kill those guys with all sorts of excuses and eat that pie myself.

Among them the great and great British Empire ran the end of that brazenness.

Building a vast colonial area spanning Canada, India, Australia, South Africa, Egypt, Malaysia etc., and binding that as one economic block and unfolding a kind of protective trade the deception.

Outwardly shouting free trade and demanding others' market opening, but inwardly thorough duality of building tariff barriers to thoroughly protect their own interests.

That was exactly the reality of our British Empire.

And there was a department that managed such policies from beginning to end, that was exactly the government's Board of Trade.

Management and regulation of industry and trade, shipping, railways, mines etc.

And the department that makes and enforces various laws and regulations related to the economy.

In modern terms an institution with powerful power that simultaneously performs the roles of the Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Commerce Industry and Energy.

And what I hope from that Board of Trade is only one.

"You want to invest in your new product?"

"Yes, right. I'll sufficiently take care of the share satisfyingly."

"Hmm..."

I slightly looked around.

Interior as luxurious as my restaurant.

They said they referenced the social club Mr. Henry goes to, is this exactly that place?

Carlton Club.

To think I'd visit the famous social club of high nobles I only heard by word from the Earl of Derby in this way.

And this person sitting in front of me reading the newspaper.

Gerald Balfour.

Conservative Party House of Commons member, and current President of the Board of Trade.

In the Conservative Party cabinet that practically rules the current British Empire, the 5th ranking power following the prime minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary.

A person even His Majesty Edward VII absolutely couldn't treat carelessly.

Just in time I obtained information that he's resting at the social club and barely requested a meeting like this.

As expected going through Mr. Churchill's political skill was the answer. To think I'd meet such a big shot this easily.

Mr. Churchill made calls here and there through the phone equipped in the office, and in the end even made this same-day meeting succeed.

But at the same time he didn't forget the warning.

'Chairman Balfour is a considerably picky person. Please absolutely be careful with every word, and continue to have alertness.'

Thud.

He folded the newspaper he was reading and neatly placed it on the table.

"I seem to have heard your name somewhere. Normally I would have immediately refused such a sudden request..."

A man whose every action was extremely sharp. One knows seeing he even angles when folding the newspaper. Firm mysophobia!

"But speaking, I have a doubt whether that business you brought out really has realization possibility? Many people come finding me holding 'good ideas', but the successful ones are to the point of counting on fingers."

In fact the reason he met me was because Mr. Churchill first showed the taste of Nutella. If it didn't suit his heart he was a person I couldn't even face like this.

What I hope from this person is only one.

Boarding the same boat.

I told Mr. Luca to put forward a nominal president, but I also needed a shield the same.

If only a power person of this level stands on my side, everything would be free pass, right? Then all worries would end!

"You're borrowing my time now. That value is quite expensive. Fortunately that mysterious chocolate jam you just delivered earned a very little time. I'll give 30 seconds so try to draw my interest within that."

He took out a pocket watch from his bosom. There was no time. I hastily opened my mouth.

"Chairman, I'm not simply trying to compete with taste alone."

"Then what?"

"Identity."

"Identity?"

"Yes, I'm trying to make an identity unique to British Empire citizens encompassing the whole world through this jam. Integration that can encompass everyone regardless of race, culture, origin."

With this level wouldn't it be a topic the Ministry of Trade would be interested in? The colonies are about to all fall away, right?

Click.

Chairman Balfour closed the pocket watch.

"...I'll give 1 more minute. Explain in detail. With simply this one chocolate jam, what identity can you make on earth?"

His gaze became a bit sharper.